15th Session of the Executive Council Azerbaijan State Economic University Baku – Republic of Azerbaijan 10-11 May 2010

With the help of Allah, the 15th session of the Executive Council of the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW) was held on 25-26 Jumada I 1431 A.H./ 10-11 May 2010, in Baku, capital-city of the Republic of Azerbaijan, under the kind patronage of His Excellency Mr Misir Mardanov, the Minister of Education, and with a generous hosting of Azerbaijan State Economic University. The proceedings of this session were opened under the presidency of H.E. Dr Abdullah Jassbi, President of Islamic Azad University, Chairman of the FUIW Executive Council. Talked during he opening session H.E. Dr Najem Mohammad Al-Najem, Vice-President for Academic Affairs in Kuwait University, representative of the President of the 4th General Conference; H.E. Dr. Hadi Azizzadeh, Deputy Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), representative of the FUIW Secretary General; and H.E. Prof Datuk Seri Dr Syed Arabi Idid, Rector of the International Islamic University Malaysia. The session also saw the participation of the members of the Executive Council whose names are annexed hereto.

After recitation of some verses from the Holy Quran, H.E. Prof. Dr Rufat Kasumov, representative of the Rector of Azerbaijan State Economic University, made an address in which he welcomed the members of the Executive Council and conveyed the University’s happiness at hosting the 15th session of the Executive Council. He also commended the tremendous support extended by the Azeri Government to the University and to joint Islamic action. In the same vein, he lauded the efforts made by the President of the General Conference, the Chairman of the Executive Council and the FUIW’s Secretary General to enhance the efforts and achievements of the FUIW.

Thereafter, H.E. Dr Najem Mohammad Al-Najem, Vice-President for Academic Affairs in Kuwait University, representative of President of the FUIW’s 4th General Conference, made an address in which he extended his thanks to the administration and teaching staff of Azerbaijan State Economic University, for their warm welcome and excellent organization of that session. Meanwhile, he expressed his wishes that the session would achieve its educational objectives, contribute to the progress of the Member Universities and help students carry on the actions initiated by their predecessors in the service of their religion, nations, home countries and humanity as a whole.

Likewise, he expressed his thanks to the Chairman of the Executive Council, the FUIW Secretary General and entire staff for their efforts to push through the mission of the FUIW and expand its scope of action. Then, H.E. Dr Abdullah Jassbi, President of Islamic Azad University, Chairman of the Executive Council, delivered an address in which he conveyed his thanks to H.E. Prof. Dr Shamsaddin Hajiyev, Rector of Azerbaijan State Economic University, for the warm hospitality and excellent preparation of this Council’s session. He also lauded the efforts being led by HE Dr Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri, Secretary General of the FUIW, to promote the FUIW’s mission and reach the highest level of quality performance and accurate follow-up. Besides, he emphasized the role of universities in boosting the progress of Muslim universities and expanding the outreach of Islamic civilization. In addition, he pointed out the importance of holding joint meetings between Islamic universities to exchange experiences and expertise, while pointing out the Federation’s role in this regard.

Thereafter, H.E. Dr. Hadi Azizzadeh, ISESCO Deputy Director General, read out the address of H.E. Dr Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri, ISESCO Director General, Secretary General of the FUIW, to the Council, wherein he extended thanks to the Republic of Azerbaijan for the massive support it lends to the FUIW and ISESCO. Likewise, he expressed his thanks and appreciation to the Rector of Azerbaijan State Economic University for hosting that session of the Executive Council and for the commendable efforts deployed to organize it. On the other hand, Dr Altwaijri underscored that the growing challenges and sweeping changes of our age redouble the responsibilities of education in general, and of Islamic university education, in particular, which constitutes a prerequisite for any developmental resurgence and civilizational edification. Furthermore, he pointed out that the academic projects to be examined by the Council would broaden the Federation’s scope of action, boost its performance, and enhance its contribution to modernizing Islamic universities and supporting joint Islamic action.

Afterwards, the Council held the first working session during which it adopted the draft agenda and programme as per the version annexed hereto. Then, ISESCO Deputy Director General presented the FUIW Secretary General report on the General Secretariat’s activities between the 14th and 15th Executive Council Sessions. The report features the activities implemented by the FUIW during the interim year between the two sessions of the Council, which reflects an active participation of the FUIW in conferences and symposia aimed at upgrading university research and developing its resources and curricula, and the field-visits made by the heads of universities and specialized experts, with a view to sharing expertise, assessing performance and promoting integrated visions among Member Universities. The Secretary General also highlighted the FUIW’s new projects namely “the Islamic Body for Quality and Accreditation”; the “Project on the FUIW Prize for Academic Research Papers”; the “Project on the Islamic Virtual University”; and the “FUIW’s University Chairs”.

After discussion of this report, the Council members lauded the outstanding efforts exerted by the Secretary General and his assistants, and commended the FUIW’s qualitative progress in the evaluation of the performance of universities and the upgrading of their quality standards. They also called upon the Secretary General to pursue his efforts to promote cooperation among Member Universities and upgrade their research, training and educational functions. Moreover, they commended the universities which play host to and cooperate in the FUIW’s activities, as part of the joint Islamic university action. Furthermore, the Council members commended the increasing trend in the activities carried out over the last three years and the widened scope of their implementation in spite of the Federation’s limited financial resources, adding that this significant growth is mainly attributable to the policy adopted by the General Secretariat to rationalize expenditures and to develop the concepts of partnership and cooperation with Member Universities.

After adoption of the Secretary General’s academic report, the Secretary General’s Financial Report for the financial year 2009 (from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2009) was presented. In this respect, the report highlighted the continuous efforts exerted by the General Secretariat to urge Member Universities to pay their contributions, in line with the recommendations of the Executive Council and the General Conference. The General Secretariat received during the year 2009 a total sum of US$ 106,151.19, including contributions for the year 2009 and bank proceeds, compared with US$ 152,554.55 in 2008. It is worth mentioning that 61 universities paid up their contributions for the year 2009. In addition, the overall expenditure during the year 2009 amounted to US$ 145,348.25. The balance as at 1 January 2009 amounted to US$ 625,649.62. Thus, the overall balance as at 31 December 2009 stood at US$ 586,452.56.

In view of the poor resources collected relative to the significant number of Member Universities, the FUIW’s General Secretariat did its best to rationalize expenditure and carry out joint cooperation activities with similar institutions and bodies, notably ISESCO and member Universities. Several of these joint activities have been initiated by the FUIW, in an endeavour to open up avenues for cooperation and consolidate the opportunities for concerted action.

Having examined and discussed the financial report, the Council members expressed their appreciation of the efforts deployed by the Secretary General and his assistants to collect contributions and arrears and to rationalize expenditure. They also commended the Federation’s policy of rationalization which provides for allocating reduced budgets for the implementation of the FUIW programmes and activities though they produced positive outcome. Besides, they called upon Member Universities which have not yet paid their contributions to settle their situation, and invited in the meanwhile the General Secretariat to pursue its efforts in this connection. Moreover, they expressed their deep gratitude to ISESCO as well as to cooperating universities and to those which host the Federation’s activities.

Then, the representative of the Secretary General presented a progress report on the Project on the Islamic Virtual University. The report reviews the latest stages achieved in light of the recommendations of the 14th session of the Executive Council, which called for convening the Virtual University’s Board of Trustees and taking the measures necessary to launch the project. In this regard, the Secretary General reviewed the resolutions and recommendations made by the 1st meeting of the Islamic Virtual University’s Board of Trustees, which was hosted by the Islamic Azad University. The Executive Council adopted the final report of the first session of the Board of Trustees of the Islamic Virtual University. The Council also invited ISESCO to host the Virtual University under the supervision of the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World. In addition, the Council members accepted the kind invitation extended by Al-Imam Muhammed Ibn Saud Islamic University to host the second meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Islamic Virtual University in Riyadh, in 2011.

Subsequently, the representative of the Secretary General presented a document on the Islamic Body for Quality and Accreditation, in light of the outcome of the relevant experts’ meeting and another meeting held at the International Islamic University Malaysia. The Council endorsed the recommendations calling for hosting the premises of the Islamic Body for Quality and Accreditation at the International Islamic University Malaysia, and for financing its activities and projects by the FUIW.

Being aware of the importance of research in the civilizational resurgence of Muslim societies, and in a bid to concretize the objectives enshrined in the Federation’s Charter aimed at enhancing the level of university scientific researches in all fields, the representative of the Secretary General presented the project of the “FUIW Prize for Academic Research Papers”, which was adopted by the 14th session of the Executive Council. In addition, the Council accepted the proposal of Al-Imam Muhammed Ibn Saud Islamic University to host the General Secretariat of the FUIW Prize for Academic Research Papers and extend all administrative facilities to upgrade the level of the Prize in coordination with the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World.

By the same token, he pointed to amendments introduced to project and provided clarifications thereon. After discussion, the Council adopted the amended version of the project, and called upon the General Secretariat to continue devoting attention to that Prize, and upon the Member universities to contribute to the success of that project.

Then, the Secretary General’s report on the 13 membership applications the General Secretariat received in 2009 was presented. In this regard, he expressed satisfaction with the number of applications submitted by universities wishing to join the FUIW.

After examining the applications submitted, the Council commended the efforts exerted by the General Secretariat in this respect and approved the applications of the following universities: the Middle East University for Higher Studies (Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan ), Al Ghurair University (United Arab Emirates), Razavi University for Islamic Sciences (Islamic Republic of Iran), University of Religions (Islamic Republic of Iran), Islamic Azad University- department of Ayatollah Amoli (Islamic Republic of Iran), Hamdard University (Islamic Republic of Pakistan), Islamic University Kushtia (People's Republic of Bangladesh), International University for Science and Technology (Arab Republic of Syria), Arab Medical University (Libyan Jamahiriya), the Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin (Federal Republic of Nigeria), Tatar State University of Humanities and Education (Russian Federation), University of Alberta (Canada) and the Scandinavian University (Norway).

Following the kind invitations extended by Naif Arab University for Security Sciences in Riyadh, Islamic Azad University, and the Islamic University in Madinah to host the forthcoming sessions of the Executive Council, the Council thanked the three universities for their invitations. It also decided to hold the 16th session in Islamic Azad University, in 2011. In addition, the Council recommended the coming Executive Council to approve the holding of the 17th session in Naif Arab University for Security Sciences in Riyadh. In response to the request of Al-Imam Muhammed Ibn Saud Islamic University, the Council submitted a recommendation to the Fifth General Conference to hold the Sixth Session of the FUIW General Conference in Al-Imam Muhammed Ibn Saud Islamic University, in Riyadh, in 2013.

During the closing session, the Council adopted the draft final report and the annexed decisions while reiterating its thanks to Azerbaijan State Economic University and its Rector, Prof. Dr Shamsaddin Hajiyev, for the generous hospitality and good organization. It also expressed its appreciation to the President of the 4th General Conference, the Chairman of the Executive Council and the Secretary General of the FUIW for the substantial progress achieved by the FUIW in various fields to upgrade university education in the Islamic world and to reinvigorate its role in boosting the progress of Muslim societies and fulfilling the civilizational mission of Muslim universities.

Moreover, the Council extended its thanks to the Republic of Azerbaijan for the warm hospitality and attentive care bestowed on the Council’s members. By the same token, the Council members thanked Azerbaijan State Economic University for the assistance and support extended in this regard, which helped bring their gathering to a successful conclusion and achieve the sought objectives.

No: FUIW/E.C.15/2010/ D 1.1(adopted)

The Executive Council :

• In compliance with Article (12- II), operative paragraph “a”, of the Federation’s Charter;
• Having examined the Draft Agenda of the current Fifteenth Council Session, as contained in Document No: (FUIW/E.C.15/2010/1.1, Provisional);
• Considering the deliberations which have taken place;

Decides the following :

• Adopts the Agenda of its Fifteenth Session as contained in the Document (FUIW/E.C.15/2010/1.1, adopted), annexed to the Final Report.

No: FUIW/E.C.15/2010/D.1.2 (amended, adopted)

The Executive Council :

• Considering the Decision No (FUIW/E.C.15/2010/D.1.1) adopted by the Executive Council regarding the Agenda of its current Fifteenth Session;
• Having examined the Draft Programme of the current Session, as contained in Document No (FUIW/E.C.15/2010/1.2, Provisional);
• Considering the deliberations which have taken place;

Decides the following :

• Adopts the Programme of its Fifteenth Session as contained in Document No (FUIW/E.C.15/2010/1.2, adopted), annexed to the Final Report.

No: FUIW/E.C.15/2010/D. 2.1

The Executive Council :

• In accordance with Article (12) II, paragraph “a”, of the Federation’s Charter;
• In compliance with Article (21), operative paragraph “a”, of the Rules of Procedure of the Federation’s Executive Council;
• Having heard the presentation made by the Secretary General of the Federation;
• Considering the deliberations which have taken place, as well as the proposals and observations put forward by the Executive Council’s members;

Decides the following :

• Adopts the Report of the Secretary General on the General Secretariat’s Activities as contained in Document No FUIW/E.C.15/2010/2.1, taking into consideration the observations made by the Council’s members;
• Invites the Secretary General to pursue his efforts aimed at broadening scope for cooperation and partnership with member universities, similar federations as well as specialized Arab, Islamic and international organizations, and scientific research institutions, as part of programmes’ implementation.
• Commends the efforts exerted by the Secretary General of the Federation and his assistants to promote cooperation among universities, upgrade their quality standards, evaluate their performance and increase the number of member universities.
• Thanks those member universities that have committed themselves to supporting the project of scholarships for Muslim world students, and those that hosted and collaborated in the Federation’s activities and programmes, and invites other universities to join in and contribute to pushing these efforts forward.
• Agrees to submit this report to the Fifth General Conference and recommends its adoption.

No: FUIW/E.C.15/2010/D. 2.2

The Executive Council :

• In accordance with Article (11) II, paragraph “6”, and Article (12) II, paragraph “b”, of the Federation’s Charter;
• In compliance with Article (21), operative paragraph “b”, of the Rules of Procedure of the Federation’s Executive Council;
• Recalling the Decision No (FUIW/E.C.14/2009/D.2.2), adopted by the Executive Council at its Fourteenth Session (Al-Imam Muhammed Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, 21-22 June 2009);
• Taking into account that the majority of the Federation’s member universities did not settle their financial contributions for the year 2009 and the preceding years;
• Considering the deliberations which have taken place;

Decides the following:

• Adopts the Financial Report of the Secretary General as contained in the Document No (FUIW/E.C.15/2010/2.2).
• Reaffirms the previous Council decisions and Conference resolutions concerning the situation of contributions and arrears as well as the incentive settlement procedures.
• Thanks the member universities which have settled their contributions for the year 2009, and urges the other member universities to settle their financial contributions and pay up their arrears in due time to allow for the implementation of the Action Plan’s programmes.
• Invites Member Universities to appoint focal points to be commissioned to coordinate with the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World in order to implement their programmes, boost their performance and pay up their arrears.
• Commends the efforts exerted by the Secretary General to intensify contact with member universities to settle their financial contributions, and thanks him for properly implementing the relevant decisions of the Executive Council at its successive sessions.
• Includes this item in the agenda of the next Executive Council session.
• Agrees to submit this report to the Fifth General Conference of the Federation and recommends its adoption.

No: FUIW/E.C.15/2010/ D. 3.1

The Executive Council :

• In accordance with Article (12) II, paragraph “a”, of the Federation’s Charter;
• Recalling the Decision No (FUIW/E.C.14/2009/D.3.2), adopted by the FUIW Executive Council at its 14th session (Al-Imam Muhammed Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, 21-22 June 2009);
• Having heard the presentation made by the representative of Islamic Azad University in this connection;
• Considering the deliberations which have taken place, as well as the views and observations put forward by the Executive Council’s members;

Decides the following:

• Adopts the Final Report of the First Session of the Board of Trustees of the Islamic Virtual University and takes the necessary practical measures to launch the project.
• Thanks the FUIW’s General Secretariat and Islamic Azad University for their continuous cooperation in the preparation of this project.
• Invites the member universities as well as Arab and Islamic organizations and institutions to extend financial and technical support to promote the mission of this University.
• Invites ISESCO to host the Islamic Virtual University at its headquarters under the supervision of the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World with an office in the State of the United Arab Emirates for technical support.
• Accepts the kind invitation extended by His Excellency Prof. Dr Suliman Abdullah Abalkhail, Rector of Al-Imam Muhammed Ibn Saud Islamic University, to host the second meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Islamic Virtual University, in Riyadh, in 2011.
• Invites the Secretary General to submit a report in this connection to the 5th General Conference of the Federation, with practical proposals for the implementation of the project.

No: FUIW/E.C.15/2010/D. 3.2

The Executive Council :

• In accordance with Article (12) II, paragraph “a”, of the Federation’s Charter;
• In accordance with Article (23) of the Rules of Procedure of the Federation’s Executive Council;
• Having examined the Document No (FUIW/E.C.15/2010/3.3);
• Having heard the presentation made by the Secretary General of the Federation in this connection;
• Considering the deliberations which have taken place;

Decides the following:

• Adopts the Draft Implementation Mechanisms of the Islamic Body for Quality and Accreditation as contained in Document No (FUIW/E.C.15/2010/3.2), taking into consideration the observations of the Council’s members.
• Thanks the FUIW’s General Secretariat and International Islamic University Malaysia for their continuous cooperation in the preparation of this project and development of necessary implementation mechanisms.
• Invites the member universities and Arab Islamic organizations and institutions to cooperate in extending support for this project
• Agrees to submit this document to the Fifth General Conference of the Federation and recommends its adoption.

No: FUIW/E.C.15/2010/ D. 3.3

The Executive Council :

• In accordance with Article (12) II, paragraph “a”, of the Federation’s Charter;
• In compliance with Article (23) of the Rules of Procedure of the Federation’s Executive Council;
• Having examined the Document No (FUIW/E.C.15/2010/3.3);
• Having heard the presentation made by the Secretary General in this connection ;
• Considering the deliberations which have taken place ;

Decides the following :

• Adopts the Project of the FUIW Prize for Academic Research Papers, as contained in the Document (FUIW/E.C.15/2010/3.3), taking into consideration the observations made by the Council’s members.
• Thanks the Secretary General and his assistants for preparing this project.
• Invites the Secretary General to pursue his efforts towards the implementation of this project.
• Invites the member universities to cooperate with the FUIW’s Secretariat in implementing this project.
• Welcomes the proposal of Al-Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud Islamic University to host the General Secretariat of the FUIW Prize for Academic Research Papers and extend all administrative facilities to upgrade the level of the Prize in coordination with the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World.
• Agrees to submit this project to the Fifth General Conference of the Federation and recommends its adoption.

No: FUIW/E.C.15/2010/D. 4.1

The Executive Council :

• In accordance with Article (11) II, paragraph “5”, of the Federation’s Charter;
• In compliance with Article (21), operative paragraph “l”, of the Rules of Procedure of the Federation’s Executive Council;
• Having examined the document containing the list of universities that applied for membership in the Federation, totalling (13) universities;
• Having heard the presentation made by the Secretary General in this connection ;
• Considering the deliberations which have taken place ;

Decides the following :

• Accepts membership, in the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World, of the universities contained in the Document (FUIW/E.C.15/2010/4.1, adopted) annexed to the Final Report.
• Recommends the Secretary General of the Federation to pursue his efforts to invite other universities in the Islamic world to join the Federation.
• Agrees to submit this document to the Fifth General Conference of the Federation and recommends its adoption.

No: FUIW/E.C.15/2010/D. 5.1

The Executive Council :

• In compliance with Article (21) paragraph “e”, of the Rules of Procedure of the Federation’s Executive Council;
• Having examined the Draft Agenda and the Draft Programme of the Federation’s General Conference;

Decides the following: :

• Adopts the Draft Agenda and Draft Programme of the General Conference as contained in the Documents (FUIW/G.C.5/2010/1.2 Provisional) and (FUIW/G.C.5/2010/1.3 Provisional).

No: FUIW/E.C.15/2010/D. 5.2

The Executive Council :

• In compliance with Article (10) of the Rules of Procedure of the Federation’s Executive Council;
• Considering the kind invitation extended by H.E. Prof Dr Abdullah Jassbi, President of Islamic Azad University, to host the coming session of the Council;

Decides the following :

• Holds the 16th Session of the Council at Islamic Azad University in 2011.
• Extends thanks to H.E. the President of Islamic Azad University, for this kind invitation.